Aggregate scoring of tagged content across social bookmarking systems

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to social bookmarking and provide a method, system and computer program product for aggregating scoring of tagged content across social bookmarking systems. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for aggregating scoring of tagged content across social bookmarking systems can be provided. The method can include combining tag scores for a tag in content across multiple different social bookmarking systems into a single aggregate tag score and applying the single aggregate tag score to the tag in the content. In this regard, combining tag scores for a tag in content across multiple different social bookmarking systems into a single aggregate tag score can include computing either a simple or a weighted average of the tag scores for the tag to produce the single aggregate score.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of social bookmarking andmore particularly to scoring tags in a social bookmarking system.

Description of the Related Art

Content browsing refers to the retrieval and presentation of electroniccontent in a browser client. Content generally can include electronicdocuments, messages, audio, audiovisual and video materials and imagery.Most commonly, content can be stored in a server environment andpublished for access by content consumers over a computer communicationsnetwork such as the global Internet. Content consumers, in turn, canretrieve content over the network by reference to a network address forthe content. Once retrieved, the content can be presented in a browserclient including not only conventional visual browsers such as thevenerable Web browser, but also in alternative browsers such as thosedeployed in pervasive devices and those supporting different modes ofpresentation such as the audible presentation of material. In othercases the content can be a physical object, like a book, and contentbrowsing can retrieve the physical location of the book, for example ina library or other information associated with the object.

Given the vast amount of content published for accessibility over theInternet, modern content browsers provide a mechanism for ablyretrieving previously accessed content. Known as a “bookmark” or“favorite” (collectively referred to as a bookmark), end users canrecord content of interest as a bookmark. Subsequently, end users canaccess a list of bookmarks in order to recall the content of interestwithout being compelled to recall from memory the precise uniformresource indicator (URI) for the content of interest.

While bookmarking reflects the personal experience of individual users,social bookmarking provides a foundation for users within a social groupto store, organize, share and search the bookmarks collectivelyestablished by the users within the social group. In operation, a socialbookmarking system, users save links to memorable content. Unliketraditional bookmarks however, in a social bookmarking system the linkssubsequently can be published for public inspection and use, so as toprovide a communal repository of bookmarks. Consequently, groups of theusers can access the links encapsulated within respective socialbookmarks, though the groups of users in fact may never have viewed theassociated content—a prerequisite for a traditional bookmark.

Social bookmarking services often encourage users in a social network toannotate bookmarks with meta-information rather than merely storingbookmarks in a traditional file hierarchy. One such type ofmeta-information is a simple descriptive text label referred to in theart as a “tag”. As such, users processing annotations for a socialbookmark can view the social bookmark for content along withmeta-information pertaining to the bookmark, for instance the number ofusers having bookmarked the content. Further, some social bookmarkingservices infer clusters of bookmarks from the relationship ofcorresponding annotations. Finally, many social bookmarking servicesprovide subscription based feeds for lists of bookmarks, including listsorganized by annotations. Consequently, subscribers can become aware ofnew bookmarks as the bookmarks are saved, shared, and annotated by otherusers.

The visual display of social bookmarks can be reflected in the displayof the tags used within the social bookmarking site The visual displayof the tags can vary according to the number of users in a socialnetwork who have bookmarked the corresponding content with that sametag. In particular, tag clouds often include tags with a font sizecommensurate with a number of users in the social network whom havebookmarked the corresponding content with that same tag. In this way, avisual glance of the content will indicate which aspects of the contentare most interesting to the social network at large as the font size ofthe different words in the content will vary relative to the other wordsaccording to the popularity of the different words.

The visual display of tags can also vary according to the overall numberof uses of a particular tag across the entire social bookmarking site.In this regard, tag clouds can be used to indicate which topics are mostprominent in the entire site.

As tagging of Web content becomes more popular and pervasive, it can beproblematic in determining how to represent the knowledge of multipletagging systems so that the wisdom of crowds is represented by anaggregate scoring of the wisdom of multiple crowds across differentsocial bookmarking system. These multiple crowds may represent multiplecrowds in a single company, or indeed individuals on other servers indifferent companies or shared spaces. In situations where end usersdesire an ability to use multiple bookmarking systems, there is no meanstoday to aggregate this content with a view towards combined normalizedscoring of tags.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art inrespect to social bookmarking and provide a novel and non-obviousmethod, system and computer program product for aggregating scoring oftagged content across social bookmarking systems. In an embodiment ofthe invention, a method for aggregating scoring of tagged content acrosssocial bookmarking systems can be provided. The method can includecombining tag scores for a tag in content across multiple differentsocial bookmarking systems into a single aggregate tag score andapplying the single aggregate tag score to the tag in the content. Inthis regard, combining tag scores for a tag in content across multipledifferent social bookmarking systems into a single aggregate tag scorecan include computing either a simple or a weighted average of the tagscores for the tag to produce the single aggregate score.

In another embodiment of the invention, a social bookmarking dataprocessing system can be provided. The system can include multipledifferent social bookmarking systems coupled to multiple differentbrowser clients over a computer communications network. The systemfurther can include score aggregation logic executing in a host servercoupled to the social bookmarking systems and the browser clients. Thelogic can include program code enabled to combine tag scores for a tagin content across multiple different social bookmarking systems into asingle aggregate tag score, and to apply the single aggregate tag scoreto the tag in the content. In this regard, the single aggregate tagscore can be a simple average of the tags scores for the tag from thedifferent social bookmarking systems, or the single aggregate tag scorecan be a weighted average of the tags scores for the tag from thedifferent social bookmarking systems.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a social bookmarking dataprocessing system configured for aggregating scoring of tagged content;and,

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a process for aggregating scoring oftagged content across social bookmarking systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system andcomputer program product for aggregating scoring of tagged contentacross social bookmarking systems. In accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention, the scores for a tag in content from multipledifferent social bookmarking systems can be combined into an aggregatedscore and reflected in the content, for example as a tag cloud. Forexample, the aggregated score can be an average score amongst thedifferent social bookmarking systems for the tag, or the aggregatedscore can be weighted according to a number of samples received in eachof the different social bookmarking system. Optionally, different socialbookmarking systems can be included in the aggregation according toadministrator preference, user preference or both.

In further illustration, FIG. 1 schematically depicts a socialbookmarking data processing system configured for aggregating scoring oftagged content The system can include multiple different socialbookmarking servers 130 with corresponding social bookmarking systems150 configured for coupling to multiple different content clients 110with respective content browsers 140 over computer communicationsnetwork 120. Each social bookmarking system 150 can measure a frequencyof tagging content as a social bookmark within a corresponding socialnetwork. The measured frequency can include a number of tags applied toall content and a number of tags applied for particular content. Themeasured frequency further can be stored within a data store of tagscores 160.

Notably, a host server 170 can be coupled to each of the socialbookmarking servers 130 and the clients 110 over the computercommunications network. The host server 170 can include scoreaggregation logic 190 coupled to a data store of aggregated scores 180.The logic 190 can include program code enabled to aggregate differentscores for the same tag from each of the different social bookmarkingsystems 150 into a single aggregated score for the tag. The program codeof the score aggregation logic 190 further can be enabled to provide theaggregated score to the different clients for visual presentation withinthe respective content browsers 140, for instance as a tag cloud.

In further illustration of the operation of the score aggregation logic190, FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a process for aggregatingscoring of tagged content across social bookmarking systems. Beginningin block 210 content for a page can be loaded and in block 220 a tagwithin the content can be selected for processing. In block 230 a firstcontributing social bookmarking system can be selected and in block 240the score and frequency data for the tag can be retrieved. In thisregard, the score can include a number of users of the socialbookmarking system having applied the tag and a number of tags appliedby all users of the social bookmarking system.

In decision block 250 if additional social bookmarking systems remain tobe processed, the process can repeat through block 230 for a next socialbookmarking system. Optionally, the number and nature of the socialbookmarking systems considered for aggregation can be limited by anadministrator or by the end users. For instance, users in one geographicregion can enjoy one set of social bookmarking systems which may differfrom users in other geographic regions. Access control further can beapplied to the end users in determining which end users can aggregatetag scores from which social bookmarking systems.

In decision block 250, when no further social bookmarking systems remainto be considered, in block 260 the tag scores collected from thedifferent social bookmarking systems can be combined into an aggregatescore for the tag. In this regard, the aggregate score can be a simpleaverage of the tag scores from each social bookmarking system, or theaggregate score can be a weighted average based upon the volume of tagsapplied in each social bookmarking system. In any event, in block 270the aggregate score can be applied to the tag in the content andvisually presented accordingly, for example in a tag cloud. In decisionblock 280, if additional tags remain to be processed in the content, theprocess can continue in block 220 with the selection of a different tag.Otherwise, the process can end in block 290.

Notably the process described herein can occur upon detecting a changein the tag scores in the different social bookmarking systems, or theprocess can be performed in batch during off hours at a scheduledinterval. Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodimentcontaining both hardware and software elements. In a preferredembodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes butis not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like.Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system.

For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computerreadable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or apropagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include asemiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), arigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of opticaldisks include compact disk—read only memory (CD-ROM), compactdisk—read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/Odevices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointingdevices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or throughintervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to thesystem to enable the data processing system to become coupled to otherdata processing systems or remote printers or storage devices throughintervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernetcards are just a few of the currently available types of networkadapters.

1.-19. (canceled)
 20. A method for aggregating scoring of tagged contentacross social bookmarking systems, the method comprising: obtaining, bya processor of a server, a tag score measuring a frequency of a tag forcontent within a corresponding social network associated with aparticular social bookmarking system executing in a corresponding socialbookmarking server, where the measured frequency of the tag indicates anumber of tags applied to all content in the particular socialbookmarking system and a number of tags applied to particular content inthe particular social bookmarking system; combining, by the processor ofthe server, tag scores for the tag across multiple different socialbookmarking systems into a single aggregate tag score after obtainingtag scores for the tag across the multiple different social bookmarkingsystems, where each different social bookmarking system executes in acorresponding social bookmarking server and is also configured forcoupling to multiple different computing clients with respective contentbrowsers; and, visually presenting, by the processor of the server, thesingle aggregate tag score within a respective content browser.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the combining comprises computing a simpleaverage of the tag scores for the tag to produce the single aggregatescore.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the combining comprisescomputing a weighted average of the tag scores for the tag to producethe single aggregate score.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein themultiple different social bookmarking systems are within anadministrator specified set of different social bookmarking systems. 24.The method of claim 20, wherein the multiple different socialbookmarking systems are within an end user specified set of differentsocial bookmarking systems.
 25. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising: again performing the combining and also the presenting inresponse to a change in the tag score in at least one of the socialbookmarking systems.
 26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:performing the combining and the presenting at a periodic interval. 27.The method of claim 20, wherein the presenting comprises visuallyrendering the tag as a tag cloud according to the single aggregate tag.28. A social bookmarking data processing system comprising: a hostserver executing score aggregation logic and coupled to a plurality ofdifferent social bookmarking servers respectively hosting differentsocial bookmarking systems, the score aggregation logic comprisingprogram code configured to obtain a tag score measuring a frequency of atag for content within a corresponding social network associated with aparticular social bookmarking system executing in a corresponding socialbookmarking server, where the measured frequency of the tag indicates anumber of tags applied to all content in the particular socialbookmarking system and a number of tags applied to particular content inthe particular social bookmarking system; combine tag scores for the tagacross the different social bookmarking systems into a single aggregatetag score after obtaining tag scores for the tag across the multipledifferent social bookmarking systems, where each different socialbookmarking system executes in a corresponding social bookmarking serverand is also configured for coupling to multiple different computingclients with respective content browsers, and visually present, within arespective content browser, the single aggregate tag score.
 29. Thesystem of claim 28, wherein the single aggregate tag score is a simpleaverage of the tags scores for the tag from the different socialbookmarking systems.
 30. The system of claim 28, wherein the singleaggregate tag score is a weighted average of the tags scores for the tagfrom the different social bookmarking systems.
 31. A computer programproduct comprising a non-transitory computer usable storage mediumhaving stored therein computer usable program code for aggregatingscoring of tagged content across social bookmarking systems, thecomputer usable program code, which when executed by a computer hardwaresystem, causing the computer hardware system to perform: obtaining a tagscore measuring a frequency of a tag for content within a correspondingsocial network associated with a particular social bookmarking systemexecuting in a corresponding social bookmarking server, where themeasured frequency of the tag indicates a number of tags applied to allcontent in the particular social bookmarking system and a number of tagsapplied to particular content in the particular social bookmarkingsystem; combining tag scores for the tag across multiple differentsocial bookmarking systems into a single aggregate tag score afterobtaining tag scores for the tag across the multiple different socialbookmarking systems, where each different social bookmarking systemexecutes in a corresponding social bookmarking server and is alsoconfigured for coupling to multiple different computing clients withrespective content browsers; and, visually presenting, within arespective content browser, the single aggregate tag score.
 32. Thecomputer program product of claim 31, wherein the combining comprisescomputing a simple average of the tag scores for the tag to produce thesingle aggregate score.
 33. The computer program product of claim 31,wherein the combining comprises computing a weighted average of the tagscores for the tag to produce the single aggregate score.
 34. Thecomputer program product of claim 31, wherein the multiple differentsocial bookmarking systems are within an administrator specified set ofdifferent social bookmarking systems.
 35. The computer program productof claim 31, wherein the multiple different social bookmarking systemsare within an end user specified set of different social bookmarkingsystems.
 36. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein thecomputer usable program code further causes the computer hardware systemto perform: again performing the combining and also the presenting inresponse to a change in the tag score in at least one of the socialbookmarking systems.
 37. The computer program product of claim 31,wherein the computer usable program code further causes the computerhardware system to perform: performing the combining and the presentingat a periodic interval.
 38. The computer program product of claim 31,wherein the presenting comprises visually rendering the tag as a tagcloud according to the single aggregate tag.